Weed extractor



April 30, 1929.

R. MILLS WEED EXTRACTOR Filed May 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 30,1929. R L 1,710,781

WEED EXTRACTOH File May 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /IYVEIY70P P1155421.MILLS.

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Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNlTED STATES RUSSELL MILLS, 0F MAJORVILLE, ALBERTA, CANADA.

WEED EXTRACTOR.

Application filed May 27, 1927, Serial No. 194,791, and in Canada April13, 1827.

This invention relates to improvements in weed extractors and theobjects of the invention are to provide a strong, simple and din-ablycoilstrinzted mechanism of this descriptiim of light weight and of lightdraft that will more efficiently perform the funciions reipiiriul of itthan weed extracting machines of a similar character heretofore and atpresent in use.

This invention relates to weed extractors, the essential features ofwhich are substan- 'kelcton rotating drmns including end plans andintermediate plates and a plurality of weed extracting elements instaggered relationship to one another connecting said plates, and meansfor adjustably securing the weed entracting elements to the plates.

'lcfcrring now to the drawings in which like characters of referenceindicate correspomling parts in each figure,

Figure 1 is atop plan view of the machine.

Figure 2 is an end elevation.

Figure 3 a plan view of one of said weed extracting cable elements.

Figure at is an enlarged elevation of the cable partly in section.

Figure .3 is a plan View of one of the discs.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section through the chain tightener.

Figure? is a side elevation of the centre bracket and bar.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in WlllCll a preferredexample of my invention is disclosed, 1O designates the machine framesupported on wheels 11 and 12 in turn mounted on rotatable stub axles 13and 14; journalled in the frame. These axles carry gear wheels 15 and 16connected by chains 17 to the gears .18 keyed on a transi erselyextending shaft 19 and said chains intermediatcly travelling over anadjustable tightener 20 consisting of a slotted upright 21 rigidlyconnected to the frame 10 and having a screw-threaded spindle 22 adaptedto move upwardly and downwardly therein and to be retained in positionwhen adjusted by the loclonnts 23. On the other end of this spindle is asprocket wheel 24 engaging with the chain 17 so that as the spindle ismoved upwardly the chain will be tensioned (see Figure 2) and on beingmoved downwardly the chain will slacken.

Substantially midway of the width of the machine is mounted a supportingbracket 26 of special formation (see Figure 7) connect ed to which is abar 27 to which the hitching means 29 and 30 are connected in any wellknown manner at 31 and Rigidly mounted on the shaft 19 and adapted torotate therewith are the weed extracting elements forming an essentialfeature of my invention comprising plates 33 and 34: and 35 and 36, theend plates and 36 being adjacent the outer ends of the frame 10 and theplates 3% and 35 being adjacent to the centre bracket 26.. Intermediateof these pairs of plates are intermediate plates 37 and 38 withperipheral openings therein similar to openings 40in the end plates.

Connecting the end plates and intermediate plates and adapted to beanchored in the openings in the end plates and intermediate plates arethe weed extracting means comprising wire, cables, chains or rods 41 andformed, as itlusirated in Figure 3, with nip pics 42 brazed or otherwiseconnected onto the end of the cable, one of the nipples beingscrew-threaded at 43 to engage with a retaining nut 4%, the other nippleengagim with the peripheral openings in the em plates 33, 34, 35 and 36(see Figure 1). In this way the members 41 can be tensioned or slackenedat will.

A feature of the arrangement of these weed extracting members 41 is thatthey are in longitudinal alignment and in staggered relationship to oneanother so that they are al-.

ways in operation in contact with the ground to more efficiently performthe functions required of them.

In operation and as the machine moves forward the sprockets 15 and 16are rotated through the chains 17, the sprockets 18 on opposite ends ofthe shafts l9 rotating the latter and with it the different sections ofskeleton drums of the weed extracting means. Due to the sprocket ratiosthe skeleton drums make one revolution for every three. and a halfrevolutions of the wheels 11, thus giving the cable extracting means aretarded action so that they enter the ground with a forward motion,remain in the ground for a (listance of approximately six feet and thenemerge from the ground behind the skeletion drums and deposit the weedson the surface.

If desired the weed extracting members may be provided with auxiliarymeans in the form of teeth or spurs or any other suitable device forengaging with and collecting the weeds.

hen it is desired to throw the shaft and the weed extracting members outof gear the clutch 45 on the stub axles 13 and 14: may he brought intoaction.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my improved weeding machine isof simple and durable construction, of light weight and draft andadapted to ellieiently perform through its different eo-ordinating partsthe functions required of it.

As many changes could he made in the above construction and manyapparently widely dillerent embodiments of my invention, within thescope of the claims, constructed without departing from the spirit orscope thereof, it is intended that all matter eontained in theaemmpanying s 'iecilication and drawings shall he interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a machine of the elmraeter described a rotatable shaft, a platerigidly mounted at each end of the shaft and formed w'th. peripherallyspaced openings therein adapt ed to engage with a wire or the line, apair of oriliced supporting plates rigidly mounted on the shaftsubstantially midway there of, orificed plates rigidly mounted on theshaft intermediate of the pair of supporting plates and the end plates,the peripheral openings in the last inentii'med. plates being instaggered relationship to the openings in the end plates a plurality offlexible weed extract/iire elements such as wire anchored. at one end inthe end plates and at the other end adjustahly engaging; with the plateshetween the end plates and the supporting plates, a plurality of weede\traciting ele ments mliustahly eonneeted to the plates be tween theend plates and the supporting plates and extending through thesupporting, plates, and retaining nuts "For said elements.

The intention arrording to claim 1 in Which the ad iustahle e1 rinp;means for the weed extracting elements comprise threaded i'iipples-i onthe ends of said elements adapted to engage with the openings in thedifferent plates and to he retained in position hy means of nuts or thelike.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

RITQSELTJ MILLS.

